Thread-controlling mechanism for sewing-machines.



No. 875,610. PATENTED DEC. a1, 1907.

w. N. PARKES.

THREAD CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILEDMAR.26.1903.

54 INVENTOR: numb? flaw/4.

M ATTORNE Y 40 UNITED STATES PATENT onrron WILLIAM N. PARKES, OFBROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TIiREAD-CONTROLLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1907. I

Application filed March 26. 1903. Serial No. 149 ,661.

' New York, have invented a new'and useful Improvement inThrcad-Controlling 1\Iech anism forSewing-Machines, of which thefollowing is a description- This invention relates to the thread tension and slack thread controlling mechanism. for sewing machines.

One of its main objects is to provide a simple compact thread tensionand controlling mechanism, that may be readily adjusted to change thetension on the thread, the extent of the movement of the controllingdevice and the tension of the same.

' It is also an objectto adapt all of said mechanism to be mounted on asingle carrying stem which maybe readily secured in any suitable lace'inthe machine.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists of thearts and combination of parts as described in the specification, andspecifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is an end elevation of the head of thesewing-machine, the face-plate being removed, showing the loca tion anddisposition of my invention rela tively to the other essential elementsof a stitch-forming organization; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view ofmy threadcontrolling mechanism, including that portion of the machinehead upon which the same is sup ported; Fig. 3 is an elevation of thecontroller spring. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view, similar to Fig.2, showing another form of my invention; Fig. 5 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, the

s )rin bein omitted. showin the means b C A I" which the spring-housingmay be adjusted; Fig. 6 1s a vertical sectional view, sim lar to Fig. 2,showing a third form of my invention Fig. 7is a section on the line 7 ofFig. 6,

the spring beingomitted; and Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of thethread-controlling device shown in Fig. 2, the parts" being separatedbut shown in their as'sem-.

bl ing relation.

The numeral 1, indicates-the head of the machine; 2, the. resser-bar; 3,the resserfoot; 4, the nee ebar; 5. the need e; 6, a

vibratinggate in which .the needle may reciprocate;-7, adjustablebearings for said needle-gate; 8, the resser-foot hfter; 9, thepressure-springfor saidresser-bar; 1D, the

driving-disk on the end of the main shaft; 1], an actuator carried bythe crank-pin on said disk; 12, a vibrating lever driven by the actuatorand suitably connected by a link 13, to the needle-bar4; 14, the take-upoperatively connected to the actuator 11; and 15, the. guide-rolls andfulcrum device for said take-up. All these- "arts may be of usualconstruction, or may e substantially the same as the mechanism shown anddescribed in my application filed March 6, 190$,Serial No. 146,468.

I The thread-controlling mechanism is suitablysupported, as shown intheseveralfigures, on the head of the machine, in the line of the lead ofthe'thread between the needle and the take-up. As shown, the frame isprovided with a projection or boss. 17 thou h this is not necessary,inwhich is suita ly supported the pin or stem 18, of the tension device,the same being smooth at its inner end and grooved at 19, for thereceptionof a binding screw 19 passing through the frame, in Fig. 1.Next to the grooved portion, is 'an enlarged screw-threaded portion 20,providing a shoulder 21, which limits the extent to which the stem 18',may be screwed into the frame. Next to the screw threaded portion 20, isa still larger smooth portion 22,'providing a shoulder 23, for thepurpose of holdin the housing or bushing '30, hereinafter descri ed, onthe stem. Next to the smooth portion 22, the stem is reduced and, at itsouter end, is provided with a transverse'saw-cut 24, and is alsoexternally screw-threaded at 25.

26, is a cylindrical, tubular collar, having a transverse scrcwthreade'd bore 27, for teh reception'of a short screw 28. The collar 26,1s also provided with a short prO ecting pin 29, extending from its faceparallel with the stem 18. Pin 29, determines the normal position of theslack-thread take-up, herematter described. 30, is a cup shaped housing,having through its closed end a screw-threaded bore 31, and a smoothbored aperture 32. In its periphery the housing 30, is provided with acircumferential groove 33, designed for the reception of the end of thescrew 28, by

place on thehousing. Said screw 28. also acts as an adjusting medium byvwhich the slack-thread take-up may be held adjusted with reference tothe tension necessary to be applied to the needle-thread. The threadcontroller spring consists of a sprin wire coiled so asto provide acylindrica body portion. 35, having a looped ex tending part 34, the end36 of which is ada iph ed to be engaged directly by the thread. he

said controller spring at one endterminates,

into a supporting coiled portion 37, and at its other end into ashortstrai ht end. 38, that extends at right angles to t e .body boiledortion' of t e spring. A washer 39 is coated on the stem 18 next to thehub 22,

and next to said washer are thread'tension disks 40. -On the stem nextto said tensiondisks is a disk 42 proszided with a hub 41, the

'latter being intermediate one of the tension disks 40 andsaid' disk 42.Next'to the disk 42 1s a thread tension spring 43, anut 44 beingprovided to regulate the pressure of the spring on the'disk 42, andthrough it the-tension of the'disks 40 on the thread, it beingunderstood that all of these disks are free to -move on the smoothportion of'the stem 18,

where they are located? When all these parts described are assembled,the-body portion 35, of the controller spring surroundsthe stem 18within the housing of the cup shaped part 30, and the end 38 of saidspring extends into the aperture 32, thereby preventing the said endfrom turning relative to said housing. The body portion of thecontroller spring is located between the collar 39, and t ebottom of thehousing 30, and the said body portion is retained within the housing,and the end 38 in the aperture 32 by said collar. It is thus seen thatthe body portion of the controller spring is located on the en largedportion or hub 22 of the stem .18. The tension disks 40 are locatedintermediate the limbs of. the looped portion of the controller spring,and the coiled end portion 37 of said spring is located on the hub 41 ofthe dislk 42, and is ada ted to turn freely on said im of said springrestson the extenc ing pin 29. It is thus seen that by thecircumferential adjustment of the collar 26, that carries the spring 29,the tension of the extending portion 36 of the controller spring may beincreased or decreased. And that by the cir' cular adjustment 01 thestem 18' the working vention it" will One of the limbs of the loopedportion iting pin 29, is connected by means of the screw 28, to areduced portion 47, of the' frame 1.

The stem 18, is screw-threaded at its inner end 19, and is screwed intoan ap- I erture in the frame. In other respects the thread-controllingmechanism, in this form of m invention, is substantially the same as theorm portrayed by Figs. 2 and Adjustment of the slack thread take-up, 1nthis formof m invention, is obtained by loosening the s m 18, inth'e'frame', 'to free the" housing 30,-- then the housing 'is-turnedbythe'handle 45, until the proper degree of tension is fobtained,-the stem34, of'loop 36, being in contact with pin 29,When the stem 18, isscrewed into the frame 'toset the housing. The pin 29 inthis form ofmyrin observed that the housing 30'gvis adjusted circumferentially toincrease or decrease the efnoted-,'is in the collar 26,: as in the firstdescribed form, but it will be tension of the thread engaging part 36 ofthe v controller spring. The function of thesaid collar in this-formisthe adjustment of the limiting pin, which it carries, about the axisof the stem 18, and thereby the working position of the'said part 36,while in the other form the function of this collar is to increase thetension of the controller spring on the thread; In this second form ofmy invention the tension of the said controller spring maybe adjustedwithout chan ing the location of the pin 29, or without isturbing thecollar 26xthat carries said pin at all, while in the first form theadjustment of the collar to change the tension of the spring changes thelocation ofsaid pin 29, and then the stem 18 1 must be adjusted to againlocate saidpin in its previous position, so that the Working position ofthe end 36 of the controller spring will be properly located.

In Figs. 6 and 7 isshown a third form of my invention; In this form ahousing 48 has a bore formed in its end which serves as a cup shapedhousing for the body portion of the controller spring, as does thehousing 30,

but this housing 48 is different from the housing 30, as will .be seen.housing has a smooth bore centrally through its bottom for the passageof the stem 18,

which latter is screw threaded at 19', and is The bottom of said heldthereby in a threaded bore in the frame I of the machine. The shoulder23, of the enlarged portion 22, of the stem 18, bears directly upon theinside of the bottom of the housing 48, thereby binding the same between the frame 1 and said shoulder 23. A bushing 49, is located in thecup of the housing 48, which is provided at its inner end with a web 50,having an aperture therein for the reception of the end 38, of thethread controller spring. on its periphery witha circumferential Saidbushing is also provided A groove 51, and with'worm teeth or threads52', which latter are engaged by a worm screw 53, located in a smoothbore formed.

in an enlarged portion of the housing 48. The worm screw extendstangentially to the periphery of the bushing 49, and at its outer end isprovided with a screw cut or slot by means of which it may beturned b asmall screw driver. Said screw is fprovi ed at its inner end with asmooth reduced portion 54, which fits freely in a smooth bore in thehousing as shown'in Fig. 7 The limiting pin 29 in this third form of myinvention is carried by the housing 418-, the body portion of thecontroller spring is located within the bushing 49 and the end 38 ofsaid spring is located in the aperture in the web 50 of said bushing. Inthis form'of my inventionthe strain of the controller spring, it will beobserved, by the connection between its end 38 and the bushing 49 issuch, that causes it to tend to turn said bushing in a direction'thatpushes the worm screw 53 in its bore and thereby keeps the reducedportion 54 of said screw in its bearing. It will thus be understood thatthe tension of the controller spriiig is utilized to keep the regulatingscrew 53 in its bore or housing, and this tension is always strongenough to perform this function, and also to keep the said screw fromturning.

It will be evident from the fore oing that in the third form of myinvention t e tension or the controller spring may be regulated 7without disturbing any of the other elements of the mechanism. .Byturnin the screw '53 the bushing 49 is turned, an( as theend 38 of thecontroller spring is located in an aperture in the said bushing it isevident that by this means the tension of the controller spring may beincreased or decreased. If it is desired to change the workingpositionof the extending end 36 of the controller, in

, this formof my invention, the carrying stein is unscrewed from itsseat in the frame surfi- -ciently for the housing 48 to be adjustedaround the desired extent on said stem, when the sald houslng 18 againsecured in position by the said stem as efore.

' It isto be noted that the thread controller spring, and the threadtension device are .the

same in all of the three forms of my inven tion as described, and also.that the hub or support 41 on the disk 42 serves as a support for theend 37, of the thread engaging part of the controller in all three ofsaid forms. And itis also to be noted that the difference in the formsillustrated lie in the different means, or modifications of theadjustments of the tension ofthe controller spring and the working osition of the thread engaging part 36 oft 1e controller. In sewing machinesit is desirable to adjust these parts for different kinds of work,especially if the machineis to be rune.- a very high rate of speed. Forexampleit is desirable that the action of this controller spring. shouldreach the limiting pin just previous, or at the time the needle underreaches the work, so of course if very thin material is being stitchedit is advantageous to adjust the action of the controller differ-- entlyfrom the adjustment it is under when very heavy material is beingstitched as the needle reaches'the work earlier when heavy material is.being stitched than when light material is being stitched as is wellknown.

And for various kinds of special work, and in the use of different kindsand sizes of thread it is desirable to have these parts difi'erentadjustments, hence the reason for making these parts so they can bereadily adjusted. It is important in these controller springs, when themachine is to be run at a very high rate of speed, that there should beas much life as possible in the thread engaging part of the spring, tothe end that it will act as quickly'as possible. The manner in which mycontroller spring is carried and supported is to be noted, the end 37being mounted to turn freely. on the hub 4.1, and. the body coiledportion 35 being advantageously housed, and allof said spring being wellbalanced adds to its efficiency; The compactness of mounting all thetension device, the slack thread controller device, and the meansiorregulating' these elements on asingle supporting stem is to be noted.

, It will be evident that other modifications than those shown may bemade in my invention without departing from the spirit of the same,therefore it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to theexact forms herein described.

Having thus-described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patcut is:' I j 1. A thread controlling mechanism for sewingmachines comprising asupporting stem, a housing surrounding said stemand held adjustably fixed thereby, a art carried in said housing, meansfor circu arly adjusting said part relative to the housing, a controllerspring the coiled body of which is located in said part, and anextending'end of-the same in engagement with said part, said controllerspring provided with a thread enga ing art, and a support providedforsaid t rea engaging part.

2. A thread-controlling mechanism for sewing machines comprising'asupporting ste'm, a controller spring, means'forsupporting saidcontroller spring and for regulatingthe'stress of the same on.the-thread comprising two parts one of which is'supported by the other,and a worm connection between said darts by means of whichthe stress ofthe controller spring is regulated.

ing machines comprising a supporting stem,

a housin surrounding said stem and adjust ably hel fixed thereto, abushing located in said housing, a worm connection between the V,

3. A thread controller mechanism for sewv housing and the bushing bymeans of which the bushing may be circularly adjusted relative tothehousing, a controller springhaw.

ing a coiled body ortion located in said bushing, said contro er springprovided. with a-thread engaging part,and a connection between thespring and the bushing.

4. A slack-thread controller, comprising a spring or coiled Wire havingathread engagmg extension, a stem supporting the same, means foradjusting the tension of the controller to regulate its stress upon thethread including a bushing, by which the coiled portion is housed and towhiclrthe controller is connected, supported by said' stem, andmeans foradjusting the bushing-circumferentiall'y of the stem.

ing machines, comprising a supporting stem,

5. A thread-controlling mechanism for sewa collar surrounding said sternand held fixed thereby, a bushing lnclosed by the collar and surroundingsaid stem, means for adjusting the bushing relatively to the collar, aslackthread controller conne'ctedto the bushing at one end and supportedby the: stem at the other end, .a tension device supported by said stem,and means for regulating the stress of the tension device on the thread.

6. A thread-controlling mechanism comprising a supporting stem, a collarsupported thereby, a bushing also supported thereby within the collar, aspring surrounding said stem within the bushing and connected to thelatter, said spring having a thread-engaging arm, a tension devicecarried by the stem having a portion embraced by said arm, and

independent means carried by said stem for adjusting said arm andtension device Whereby to regulate the stress of each upon the thread.

ing machines co'm rising a supporting stem, a ousmg carried y said stem,a controller spring having a coiled body portion that is located in saidhousing, a tenslon device supported by said stem, the controller springprovided with a thread engaging part that is ooped over the tensiondisks of said tension device, an auxiliary disk having a hub on whichthe end of the outer limb of said looped portion is mounted, said hub inengagement -',with the thread tension disks,

, 40 7. A thread controlling mechanism for sew-'

